How ADD affects families

A Brief Introduction

ADDin the family doesn't only affect the suffering child, it also affects the entire family. Namely these effects may by as vast as to emotionally shatter the mother, father or any sibling. What's more, ignoring the problem works like ignoring any other problems: it only gets worse (both emotional and physical-wise), and the situation, consequentially, harder to handle.

So how does ADD affect moods and what on Earth could be done?

Quiteobviously, the first person to suffer from ADD is the one who's actually got it. This is because the suffering child may feel trapped by something he or she has no power over. This is exactly why it is important to communicate to the child properly, and thus, quite precisely, pin down the triggers of various uncontrollable acts of behavior.

Changes that need to be made may even include dietary changes (such as less sugar!), which may, in turn, greatly sedate his or her ADD.

Communication needs to remain at a healthy level between the parents themselves, but also between the parents and the kids teachers. There should be a thick stream of communication and collaboration between the parents and the teachers, since the teachers may witness certain types of behaviors at school which parents may not.

How about family systems and ADD?

Nextin line to be affected would be the kid's parents. Namely, when a parent sees his or her kid acting out, screaming, twisting and tossing about, he or she begins to – and increasingly – worry that not enough education has been provided.

They may further be looked down upon by other family members or acquaintances for the very same reasons.

And when ADD begins to affect the entire family, the parents slowly but surely begin to convince themselves that it is somehow rally is their own fault. This will, in turn, put additional strain on their marriage as well as on the relationship with their (supposedly sick) child.

And it is in these situations that parenting skills suffer the most stress, as stress is increased between the parents themselves, as well. And this is exactly why it is important for the parents to come together, and cold-headedly lay out the best possible discipline plan for their troubled child.

And parenting ADDChildren?

Duringparenting an ADD-ridden child, it is of utmost importance to use all the available expertise of the people who have already worked with such cases. The changes which may result are improvements of the relationship between the parents and their kid.

This kind of advice teaches the parents how to handle difficult situations when the kid is acting out, as it helps them manage his or her attitude better. On the other hand, the kid will feel a stronger sense of belonging as consequence, so everyone wins.

How about the siblings?

The siblings are the third to suffer, but nonetheless, they, too, do. As a result of their ill sibling's ADD's, they are likely to develop anxieties, and feel tension and frustration. Another drawback would be the ADD-ridden child constantly demanding all of the attention, which in turn leaves the other sibling(s) getting the short end of the stick.

All of this may cause "the healthy sibling" to develop resentful attitudes towards the other, which may in turn lead to a great many impulsive reactions from both parts.

And lastly, if the family has tighter relations when it comes to grandparents, aunts and so forth, they will be the last to suffer.